morgan et a



, June 16, 1925.

C. B. MORGAN ET AL WRITING MACHINE Filed Nov. 9, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 63Ga lan-vcufof Charles B. Maryan and Robert/Z Crooifs,

June 16, 1925; 1,541,840

C. B. MORGAN ET AL WRITING MACHINE .Filed Nov. 9, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2C/uzrZeJ B. Morgan and R0 berZ' fl Crooks;

Patented June 16, 1925.

warren STA E i enemies s. MORGAN AND Bonner A.

I WRITING MACHINE.

Application 'fi eanovemter a, 1923. Serial No. 673,719.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES B. MORGAN and ROBERT A. Cnoons, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Kansas City, in the countyof Jackson andState of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inWriting Machines,.of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to machines where with bankchecks and othernegotiable instrumentscan be written and one object is to provide amachine of this character embodying manually "controlled and. automatictype bar operating mechanism which is more rapid in action and can beused for writing a greater variety of instruments than is possible withthe ordinary check-writing machines now in use. 7

Other objects will hereinafter appear, and

in order that the invention may be fully understood, reference will nowbe had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 isa fragmentary side elevation of the machine, with some of theparts in section.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the platen and associateparts.

Fig. 3 is a broken plan view of certain manual and power-controlledmechanism at the lower portion of the machine. 7 1 Fig. 4 isa'fragmentary front elevation of a type-lever guide and a type lever inoperative relation to said guide.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of certain mechanism at the lowerforward portion of the machine and embodying means for effecting rapidsuccessive printing of a character.

Fig. 6 is afragmentary vertical section of certain mechanism at thelower front part of the machine, with some of the elements in differentpositions from that disclosed by Fig. 1. I

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective of a number of the elements at the lowerforward'portion of the machine.

Fig. 8 is a brokendetail perspective of a bar employed in carrying outthe invention.

In the drawings which, for simplicity, have been restricted to the novelfeatures of the invention and their immediate associate parts, 6designates a large paper feed roller provided with a rubber or othersuitable covering 5 and carried at its ends byplates 3 provided withstub shafts 4 'journaled in bearings 4 at the upper portion of the carsurface 9 and prevent its forward edge from passing between the rubbercovering 5 and the platen 9. Small rollers-2 are provided to coact withthe large roller 6 in feeding the paper, and stationary guides 8 and 10are employed to retain the. paper against the roughened surface 9 of theplaten 9.

The roughened surface 9" of the platen 9 coacts with the types 27 inmutilating the paper .as it is printed upon. Any desired number oftypesmay be employed and each is carried bya holder 29 remcvablyconnected to theassociate type lever 30 by a pin 28, so that the typemay be changed when desired.

Each type bar 30 is fulcrumed at 31 and has an angular slotted portion32 through which a stud 33 projects from the upper end of a bell-crank34 fulcrumed at 39 in a portion 38 of the frame 4".. Each bell-crank 34is norone end on a pin 44 in the lower portion 44 of the frame 4.

The opposite end of the key lever 43 is provided with a key 46 whichconstitutes one member of a key board emjustabletypebar guide 1 issecured to the frame 4 by. screws 1*.

Referringnow to the inking mechanism and its actuating parts, 26designates a supply pad or reservoir which is saturated with ink andarranged in the path of ink applicators '25, each of which is providedfor supplying ink to the associate type 27 held .in engagement with theapplicator by the coil spring 36 and intermediate parts. Each applicator25 is secured to the lower end of a lever 21 by suitable means such as ascrew 23 and is covered withfelt or other ink absorbing material 24.Each applicator lever 21 is fulcrumed at 19 to a forward upper portion18 of the frame 4 and has a slotted 'mally held in raised position, Fig.1, by a bodying any desired number keys. An adportion 20 extendingbetween the forked terminal of an associate lever 13 fulcrumcd at 16 ona plate 17 secured to the frame portion 18. Each lever 13 is connectedto the underlying key lever 43 by a rod and provi-ded with a pin 12extending freely through the slot 20 of the associate lever 21 toactuate the same. Springs 11 are secured to the levers 13 by suitablemeans such as screws 14 and normally hold the applicator levers 21 inthe position disclosed by Fig. 1.

The manual operation is accomplished as follows: Downward. pressure uponone of the keys 46 rocks the respective key lever 43 downwardly which inturn swings the lever 21 forwardly over the pad 26, as inclicated' bydotted lines Fig. 1, through the intermediacy of the connecting rod 15and the lever 13. As the lever 21 swings forwardly it carries theapplicator out of the path of the underlying type 27, the operation ofwhich is delayed by reason of the stud 41 being spaced short distanceabove: the arm 40, as shown by Fig. 1. By the time the applicator 24swings out of the path of they type 27, the stud 41 contacts anddepresses the arm and effects the upward movement of the type 27 causingit to impinge against that portion of the paper extending over theplaten 9 through the intermediacy ofthe key lever 43, the stud 41}, thebell-crank 34 and the type bar 30. When the depressed key 46 is releasedthe parts are restored to normal position through the intermediacy ofthe associate springs 11 and 36. As the applicator 25 is carriedforwardly and backwardly over the inksupply 26 the felt 24 isreplenished. with ink and reinks the type 27, so that the printing onthe paper will be distinct and of uniform color. Should the applicatorlever 21 return to normal position before the type bar 30 after the key46 has been released as stated, the rounded end 27f of the type holder29 will contact the relatively broad surface 22 of the lever 21 and pushthe same out of the way against the action of the spring 11 and permitthe type bar 30 to pass, the tension of the spring 36 being sufficientto overcome the spring 11 for that purpose. Members 48 underlying thekey levers 43 are turned down to the dotted line position Fig. 1,. toavoid actuating the automatic mechanism hereinafter referred to.

Having described the manual operation, we will now proceed to describethe combined manual and automatic operation and more particularly themechanism for carrying out the latter, it being understood that theautomatic mechanism is employed more especially to gain speed in writingand re lieve the operator of fatigue arising from prolonged. manualoperation alone. Member's 43' have slots 49 through which a flat bar 50'freely extends. Said bar 50 termireareao nates in journals 50 mounted inthe lower portion 54 of the frame 4. Each member 48 when turned upwardlyto the full line position, Fig. 1, is hold close to the underside of anassociate key lever 43 by a retainer 51, reciprocably arranged in theframe portion 54 and normally held in raised position by a coil spring63 tensioned by a set screw 64 threaded into the lower part of the frameportion 54 and prevented from coming loose by a locking device 64*.

57 designates a plurality of bolts, one of which is normally held uponthe lower leg of the associate retainer 51 by a coil spring 55, which isweaker than the associate spring 63. The lower end of the spring 55loosely embraces a stud 56 on the bolt 57 while the upper end of saidspring 55 bears against a rib 53 eXtend-inginwardly from a face plate 54secured to the front side of the of which is associated with eachretainer 1 51 and bolt 57 and slides in a slot 66 in the lower part ofthe frame portion 54. Each plunger 62 is normally held in retractedposition Fig. 1, against the action of coil spring 59, by a lug 62*which projects from said plunger 62' and bears against the end ofthe'lowcr leg of the associate retainer 51. The springs 59 are arrangedin slots 58 in the frame portion 54 and tensioned by set screws 61secured by a locking device-60.

Each plunger 62 is provided at one end with an eccentric 69 mounted uponan axis 70 and normally held from rotation by a lug 68 projecting overthe slotted portion 67 of the frame portion 54. Each plunger 62 isprovided with an upwardly extending shoulder 71, which constitutes astop for a link 72 pivoted at its lower end to said plunger 62 andpivotally secured at its upper end to a connecting rod72 provided with aturn-buckle 42 connected at its upper end to the associate bell-crank34. v i

74 designates a roller, preferably, provided with a rubber covering 73.Said roller.

74 is geared to an electric or other suitable motor (not shown) and iscontinuously driven when the operator is using the auto matic mechanism.

The operation of the automaticn'rechanism is as follows: The members 48are adjusted upwardly to the full line position, Fig. 1, so that slightdownward pressure upon any one of the keys 46 depresses the respectivekey lever 43, which in turn ac'tuat'es the applicator lever 21 ashereinbefere described in the manual operation. Said key lever 43 thenforces the underlying member 48 and the retainer 51 downwardly againstthe action of the spring 63. The instant the lower leg of the retainer51 moves downwardly out of the pathof the lug 62 the plunger 62 isforced longitudinally by the spring 59 and carries the eccentric 69'against the rotating roller 74. The forward movement of the eccentric 69carries the stop 68 out of engageme-nt with the slotted portion 67 ofthe frame 54 and permits said eccentric 69 to be turned onerevolution bythe roller 74. As the high radius of the eccentric 69 rolls into contactwith the surface of the roller 74 it retracts the plunger 62 beyond itsinitial position, causing the shoulder 71 to carry the link 72backwardly in an upright position, and through the intermediacy of theconnecting rod 72*, actuate the bellcrank 34 before the same can beactuated by the stud 41. The bell-crank 34 in turn swings the type bar30 upwardly to impress the character of the type 27 upon the paper as inthe manual operation. The momentum imparted by the roller 74 to theeccentric 69 carries the same around until checked by its stop 68 againengaging the slotted part 67 of the frame. The instant the plunger 62 isretracted by the eccentric 69,-as stated, the bolt 57 is forceddownwardly by the spring into the path of the lug 62 and prevents theplunger from being advanced another stroke by the spring 59. Whendownward pressure on the key 46 is removed the retainer 51 isimmediately raised to normal position by the spring 63 and carries itslower leg into the path of the lug 62. As the retainer 51 moves upwardlyas stated, it

raises the member 48 to normal position and. also raises the bolt 57against the action of the spring 55, which as above-mentioned is weakerthan the spring 63. The automatic mechanism has now completed one cycleand remains stationary until the key 46 is again depressed, when theforegoing operation is repeated.

e will now describe what we term the repeating mechanism whereby thesame character may be quickly printed two or' more times whenoccurringin a number having successive duplicate characters such as 00,etc. 77 designates supplemental key levers, Fig. 5, arranged beside themain key levers 43 and provided with supplemental keys 46. Said keylevers 77 are fulcrumed at 78 and provided with hooks pivoted at 76, sothat they may be swung upwardly over the associate main key levers 43.lower end of each supplemental key lever 77 is arranged to actuate anassociate latch 79 pivoted at 80 and adapted to enter a notch 81 in thefront side of the bolt 57. When the supplemental key lever 7 7 isdepressed it depresses the main key lever 43 through the intermediacy ofthe hook 74, causing the operation of the applicator lever 21.Depression of the supplemental key lever 77 as stated causes its lowerend to push the lower end of the latch 79 into the notch 81 and Thethereby hold thebolt 57 in raised position, so thatthe plunger 62mayagain advance and repeat the printing of the character without requiringthe operator to again depress the key 46.

When automatic operation of the type bars 30 is not desired and manualoperation alone is preferable,the bar 50 is rotated one quarter of arevolution to carry the members 48 downwardly to the dotted lineposition Fig. 1, so that the key levers 43 may be operated withoutactuating the automatic mechanism. The links 72 swing idly upon thepivots when the connecting bars 72 are actuated by the bell-cranks 34.

From the foregoing description it is ap parent that wehave provided awriting machine which is positive in operation and embodies theadvantages above pointed out, and while we have shown and described thepreferred construction, combination and arrangement of parts, wereservethe right to make such changes as properly fall within the spiritand scope of the invention as claimed;

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is:

1. In a machine of the character described printing mechanism, a keylever, a rotary driving member, a plunger, mechanism controlled by thekey lever for releasing said plunger and permitting the same to movetowards the rotary member, an eccentric which on being carried by theplunger against the rotary. member retracts said p1unger, a rodconnected to the printing mechanism, a link pivotally secured to saidrod and the plunger and a shoulder on the plunger which coacts with saidlink in effecting the operation of the printing mechanism through theintermediacy of the rod on backward movement of the plunger.

2. In a machine of the character described printing mechanism, a keylever, a rotary driving member, a plunger, a retainer controlled by thekey lever for releasing said plunger and permitting the same to movetowards the rotary member, spring means for normally holding saidretainer in the path of the plunger, spring means for advancing theplungeron being released, an

eccentric which on being carried by the plunger against the rotarymember retracts said plunger, and means actuated by the plunger which inturn actuates the printing mechanism.

3. In a machine of the character described printing mechanism, a keylever, a rotary driving member, a plunger, a retainer for releasing theplunger and permitting the same to move towards the rotary member, anadjustable member interposed between the key lever and said retainer toimpart motion from the former to the latter and g nae-Lean euse it torelease the plunger, an eccentric which on being carried by the plungeragainst the rotary member retracts said plunger, and mechanism. actuatedby the plunger which in turn actuates the printing mechanism.

4. In a machine of the character described printing mechanism, a keylever, a rotary driving membelyfa plunger, a retainer controlled by thekey lever for releasing said plunger and permitting the same to movetowards the rotary member, spring means for normally holding saidretainer in the path of the plunger, spring means for advancing theplunger on being released, an eccentric which on being carried by theplunger against the rotary member retracts said plunger, a springpressed member to intercept the retracted plunger and hold it until theretainer moves into normal posi-' tion, and mechanism actuated by theplunger which in turn actuatesthe printing mech* anism.

5; In a machine of the character described printing mechanism, a keylever, arotary driving member, a plunger, a retainer controlled by thekey lever for releasing said plunger and permitting the same to movetowards. the rotary member, spring means for normally holding saidretainer in the path of the plunger, spring means for advancing theplunger on being released, an eccentric which on being carried by theplunger against the rotary member retracts said plunger, a springpressed member to intercept the retracted plunger and hold it until theretainer returns to normal position, mechanism actuated by the plungeron its backward movement which in turn actuates the printingmechanism,and manually controlled mechanism for holding the spring pressed memberout of the path of the plunger so that the same may again move forwardlyand effect repetition of the printing operation.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures-,i-n the presence of twoWitnesses.

CHARLES B. MORGAN.

ROBERT A. CROOKS.

Witnesses L. J. Frsorrnn, F. O. FISCHER.

